Our Ref : APPBCA-2016-02

Building Engineering Group (#12-00)

Fax
: 6334 2561
DID
: 6804 4600

1 March 2016
See Distribution
Dear Sir/Madam

CALIBRATION OF EQUIPMENT
ACCREDITED LABORATORIES

FOR

PILE

LOAD

TEST

BY

SAC-SINGLAS

This circular is to remind the industry on the regulatory requirements relating to pile
load tests carried out in connection with building works.
2
Under Regulation 39(2)(b) of the Building Control Regulations, any test for the
purpose of Section 7A(2) of the Building Control Act is to be carried out in a SAC-SINGLAS
accredited laboratory. These tests include calibration tests for equipment like load cells,
pressure gauges and movement gauges used in pile load testing.
3
Before commencement of any pile load testing at site, Qualified Persons (QP)
supervising the pile load test will have to inspect the test equipment to check that they are
functional and properly calibrated. BCA would like to remind QP to exercise vigilance to
check and verify the calibration reports issued by the laboratories.
4.
QPs are to take note that not all laboratories are SAC-SINGLAS accredited, and that
accreditation may only be for specific services rendered by these companies. QPs are
therefore reminded to ensure that the laboratory that you have engaged to carry out the test
is SAC-SINGLAS accredited for that specific scope of test. The accreditation status of
companies and their scopes of accreditation can be found at the Singapore Accreditation
Councils website (www.sac-accreditation.gov.sg).
5.
QPs are advised to check that each of the test equipment used in the pile load
testing bears a valid calibration certificate, issued by a SAC-SINGLAS accredited laboratory
to the full capability or capacity of the test equipment. QPs should also check for the SAC
accreditation mark on the endorsed calibration reports and certificates for the test equipment
as proof that the services has attained accreditation from SAC, before allowing them to be
used for pile load testing at site. A sample of an endorsed calibration report for load cell is
shown in Annex A.
6
QPs supervising building works that require the use of load cells or hydraulic jacks to
measure forces are also reminded to check and verify the calibration reports of these
equipment. Examples of building work that require the use of these equipment include preloading of ERSS struts, prestressing, ground anchors, etc.

52 Jurong Gateway Road, #11-01, Singapore 608550

Tel: 1800-34252222 Fax: 63344287 email: bca_enquiry@bca.gov.sg
www.bca.gov.sg

An MND Statutory Board

7
I would appreciate it if you could bring to the attention of your members the contents
of this circular. Please contact Dr Yet Nai Song or Mr Kwa Chin Soon at Tel 6804 4600 or
email kwa_chin_soon@bca.gov.sg, if you need further clarification. Thank you.

Yours faithfully

ER. KIEFER CHIAM

DIRECTOR
BUILDING ENGINEERING GROUP
For COMMISSIONER OF BUILDING CONTROL

ANNEX A SAMPLE OF ENDORSED CALIBRATION REPORT FOR LOAD CELL

CIRCULAR DISTRIBUTION LIST

ASSOCIATIONS / SOCIETIES
PRESIDENT
INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, SINGAPORE (IES)
70, BUKIT TINGGI ROAD
SINGAPORE 289758
ies@iesnet.org.sg
PRESIDENT
ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTING ENGINEERS, SINGAPORE (ACES)
18 SIN MING LANE
#06-01 MIDVIEW CITY
SINGAPORE 573960
secretariat@aces.org.sg
PRESIDENT
SINGAPORE CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION LIMITED (SCAL)
CONSTRUCTION HOUSE
1 BUKIT MERAH LANE 2
SINGAPORE 159760
enquiry@scal.com.sg
PRESIDENT
SINGAPORE INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS (SIA)
79 NEIL ROAD
SINGAPORE 088904
info@sia.org.sg
PRESIDENT
SOCIETY OF PROJECT MANAGERS (SPM)
MACPHERSON ROAD P.O.BOX 1083
SINGAPORE 913412
sprojm@yahoo.com
PRESIDENT
SINGAPORE INSTITUTE OF BUILDING LIMITED (SIBL)
70 PALMER ROAD,
#03-09C PALMER HOUSE
SINGAPORE 079427
josephine@sib.com.sg
PRESIDENT
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE (REDAS)
190 CLEMENCEAU AVENUE
#07-01 SINGAPORE SHOPPING CENTRE
SINGAPORE 239924
enquiry@redas.com
PRESIDENT
SINGAPORE INSTITUTE OF SURVEYORS & VALUERS (SISV)
110 MIDDLE ROAD #09-00
CHIAT HONG BUILDING
SINGAPORE 188968
sisv.info@sisv.org.sg

PRESIDENT
SINGAPORE STRUCTURAL STEEL SOCIETY (SSSS)
1 LIANG SEAH STREET
#02-11/12 LIANG SEAH PLACE
SINGAPORE 189022
secretariat@ssss.org.sg
PRESIDENT
GEOTECHNICAL SOCIETY OF SINGAPORE
C/O PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES CENTRE
NUS FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
9 ENGINEERING DRIVE 1
SINGAPORE 117576
geoss@nus.edu.sg
PRESIDENT
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS BOARD, SINGAPORE (PEB)
52 JURONG GATEWAY ROAD, #07-03
SINGAPORE 608550
registrar@peb.gov.sg
PRESIDENT
BOARD OF ARCHITECTS (BOA)
5 MAXWELL ROAD
1ST STOREY TOWER BLOCK
MND COMPLEX
SINGAPORE 069110
boarch@singnet.com.sg
DIRECTOR
PROTECTIVE INFRASTRUCTURE & ESTATE
DEFENCE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AGENCY
1 DEPOT ROAD #03-01J
SINGAPORE 109679
oyewhing@dsta.gov.sg
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT & MAINTENANCE BRANCH
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
1 NORTH BUONA VISTA DRIVE
OFFICE TOWER LEVEL 9
SINGAPORE 138675
eng_wee_tong@moe.gov.sg
DIRECTOR
BEST SOURCING DEPARTMENT
PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD
40 SCOTTS ROAD #18-01
ENVIRONMENT BUILDING
SINGAPORE 228231
koh_boon_aik@pub.gov.sg
lim_kim_tee@pub.gov.sg

DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE

INFRASTRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT
LAND TRANSPORT AUTHORITY
1 HAMPSHIRE ROAD
BLOCK 8 LEVEL 1
SINGAPORE 219428
chong_kheng_chua@lta.gov.sg
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
PROJECT DEVT & MGT SECT 1 (C&S)
BUILDING QUALITY GROUP
HOUSING & DEVELOPMENT BOARD
HDB HUB
480 LORONG 6 TOA PAYOH
SINGAPORE 310480
lkh4@hdb.gov.sg
DIRECTOR
TECHNICAL SERVICES DIVISION
JTC CORPORATION
THE JTC SUMMIT
8 JURONG TOWN HALL ROAD
SINGAPORE 609434
chwee.koh@jtc.gov.sg
DIRECTOR
BUILDING
PEOPLES ASSOCIATION
9 STADIUM LINK
SINGAPORE 397750
foo_soon_leng@pa.gov.sg
PRESIDENT
THE TUNNELLING AND UNDERGROUND
CONSTRUCTION SOCIETY SINGAPORE (TUCSS)
C/O CMA INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANTS PTE LTD
1 LIANG SEAH STREET
#02-12 LIANG SEAH PLACE
SINGAPORE 189022
info@tucss.org.sg
PRESIDENT
SOCIETY OF ROCK MECHANICS AND ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
1 LIANG SEAH STREET
#02-12 LIANG SEAH PLACE
SINGAPORE 189022
srmeg@cma.sg
DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
SENTOSA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
33 ALLANBROOKE ROAD, SENTOSA
SINGAPORE 099981
agencies_circulars@sentosa.com.sg

HEAD (FIRE SAFETY AND BUILDING CONTROL)

BUILDING AND INFRASTRUCTURE
DEFENCE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AGENCY
1 DEPOT ROAD
DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY TOWER A
SINGAPORE 109679
HOW AH MENG
EMAIL: HAHMENG@DSTA.GOV.SG

MANAGER (ARCHITECTURAL PLANS)

BUILDING AND INFRASTRUCTURE
DEFENCE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AGENCY
1 DEPOT ROAD
DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY TOWER A
SINGAPORE 109679
SEBASTIAN LIM HAI KONG
EMAIL: LHAIKONG@DSTA.GOV.SG

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